Ben Becker: Dolphins' TV blackouts possible in 2012

Thanks to whiffs on free-agent quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn, not to mention numerous other on- and- off-the-field embarrassments too long to list but committed to memory of any Dolphins fans, a majority of home games likely will struggle to sell out next season.

This will lead to dreaded local-TV blackouts.

The team and sponsors bought thousands of tickets to keep the games on the air in 2011, but the rancid state of the franchise can only be matched by its putrid 2012 schedule that includes the likes of the Bills, Jaguars, Titans, Rams, Raiders and Seahawks. If it wasn't for the Patriots and Jets, it's conceivable every home game would be unavailable.

Not that this will encourage people to buy tickets.

After all, the Dolphins have all the sizzle of flat soda right now, as evidenced by a season-ticket base reportedly in the low 40,000s. That's down from more than 60,000 in the heady days of Nick Saban.

On the bright side, plenty of good seats should be available if you want to watch quarterbacks that were available to the Dolphins, but instead took their talents elsewhere — Flynn (Seahawks) and Tim Tebow (Jets).

STILL GOING

The Dodgers may be long gone from Vero Beach, but Scully is still going strong.

The teams longtime play-by-play voice will continue to call over 100 Dodger games this year. At 84-years-old, Scully is entering his 63rd season with the Dodgers

WHAT'S ON WHERE

Sunday

Heat at Thunder (8 p.m. ESPN): This has the makings of a possible NBA Finals preview — Lebron vs. Durant, Wade vs. Westbrook. But the most interesting storyline on the court could be Derek Fisher. The Thunder outbid the Heat for the services of the veteran point guard after Fisher negotiated a buyout with the Rockets.

Marlins at Rays (1:05 p.m. Fox Sports Florida): Opening Day is almost here. This is one of your last chances to see how the Marlins are shaping up before the games count.

Arnold Palmer Invitational (2:30-6 p.m. NBC): Is Tiger back? Assuming he makes the cut, how well will his balky Achilles tendon hold up after playing 18-holes for seven consecutive days in his last tournament before the Masters?

NASCAR at Fontana (2:30 p.m. FOX): Kyle Busch is the man here. He has one win, five top-five and nine top-10 finishes, and has led a total of 394 laps in his 14 career Sprint Cup starts at this track.

Monday

"Once In a Lifetime — Rock vs. Cena" (8 p.m. USA): This lifestyle special is a candid and compelling look at two of the biggest icons in sports entertainment history, The Rock and John Cena, as they prepare for their Once in a Lifetime main event match at WrestleMania XXVIII in Miami on April 1.